What Are The Favorite Off-Season Activities of NHL Superstars?

Have you ever been wondering what hockey players do during the off-season? The regular schedule of the NHL season ends in mid-April, and the new campaign starts at the beginning of October. Many stars have several weeks or even months off. What are they doing with their free time? 

Find out about the interesting, inspiring, or even weird activities of the NHL players during the summer in our blog. Get ready for the wide range of action. Weddings, schools, hunting, and more. Don't be shocked; hockey guys are full of surprises.

Jared McCann during his wedding day 

Weddings & Engagements: The NHL Edition

From October to April (or May or June if you play in the Stanley Cup play-offs), NHL players have one main activity: ice hockey. It can seem exaggerated, but they don't have time for anything else. Yes, teams have some days off, but players need to practice and rest. Majority of their time is taken up by their day-job: being an NHL player. 

So, if someone wants to get engaged, have a wedding, or throw a big family party, they need to wait. In the photo above, you can see Seattle Kraken's forward, Jared McCann, with his beautiful wife (and the best groomsman, Cheddar). During the summer of 2024, many players used their time for weddings or engagements. It's not just McCann but also Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars (photo below) or Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers and Owen Power from the Buffalo Sabres who proposed to their girlfriends (spoiler alert: they said YES!). 

Mason Marchment's wedding (summer 2024)

It is Home Sweet Home for Some Hockey Players

There is no place like home. That's not just a saying; it's the truth. Players from Finland, Slovakia, Sweden, Czechia, Switzerland, and other European countries come home during the summer. They visit their families and friends and spend some time in the cities and towns where they live. Often, NHL superstars go to several elementary schools and inspire young people with their life stories and experiences. This also applies to Americans and Canadians. They may play in North America, but the majority of them are part of the teams from different parts of the US and Canada. Everybody wants to spend some time with their relatives; there are no exceptions. 

NHL Players Do What They Want

Yeah, we couldn't use a better title. The NHL superstars really do what they want during the summer. Some of them play golf with their friends or teammates. We can name Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid, Tomáš Tatar, Brad Marchand, and many more because golf is among the most popular leisure activities for hockey players.

The captain of the Nashville Predators, Roman Josi, came to see one of Taylor Swift's concerts; Matthew Tkachuk threw a few parties with his friends; and some guys tried new sports (but not dangerous ones, because they have contracts). Dávid Pastrňák from the Boston Bruins sometimes comes to see his favorite football club, Baník Ostrava, and support them with their ultras fans. 

Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid during their golf session

Zdeno Chára, during his playing time, studied at Harvard (P.K. Subban too), and he liked to start his season preparations just a few days after the end of a campaign. Big Z continues to shock even after the end of his career. Chára is now an endurance athlete (he is 47 years old); he runs marathons and Ironman races. Is it a coincidence that he was among the first players to use Rezztek® in the NHL? Probably not. 

Martin Fehérváry from the Washington Capitals loves fishing, and Brent Burns from the Carolina Hurricanes regularly goes hunting. Some players just relax at the beach or in the mountains. Sometimes, men are simple creatures, Seth Jarvis from the Carolina Hurricanes loves sleeping, so he naps as much as he can and Nick Suzuki from the Montreal Canadiens just enjoys watching the TV.  Everybody needs to recharge and rest their body or mind. The NHL season is extremely hard in every physical and mental aspect. Players need to be ready and in the best shape they possibly can. 

Martin Fehérváry is a passionate fisherman

Hockey Never Ends

The off-season is a time when players and fans can take a break from the NHL. But hockey never ends. There is the entry draft and also numerous trades among teams. General managers don't have time off; they try to build the best possible roster for the next season. Decisions must be made, and contracts need to be signed. 

Also, players know that they can relax a little and get some fresh energy, but at the same time, they want to get into the best shape of their lives. For the majority of hockey players, practices start a week or two after the season ends. They want to be better; they want to maintain a position in their team, which will bring them more ice time and opportunities. And what is the ultimate goal? Win a Stanley Cup. It doesn't matter if you are a young player, a veteran, or if you have won several cups or none. 

Matthew Tkachuk with the Stanley Cup